Log bunk latch



June 23, 1959 T.'u. QILLUPS 2,891,485

- LOG BUNK LATCH I File d Aug. 1, 1955 INVENTOR. THOMAS u. BILLUPS United States Patent LOG BUNK LATCH Thomas U. Billups,,La Center, Wash. Application August 1,1955, Serial No. 525,517 1 Claim. or. 105-160) This invention relates to improvements in log bunks, and'the primary. object of the invention is to provide a simple means for holding the stakes of the bunk in vertical or load carryingposition, and. for releasing ,the stakes when dumping the load,

In order to carry out-the object of this invention, a cable and; chain combination, isemployed for. bracing the; stakesiania special holdingor binding clamp is used for securing the cable in a fixed holding position. This clamp or holder has the feature of quick and complete release incorporated therein for releasing the cable and dropping the stake to unloading position.

This clamp also has a safety feature incorporated therein for locking the same in clamping or holding position until positively released by the operator.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a log bunk, illustrating one of the stakes being held in load carrying position, while the oppositely disposed stake has been released and dropped to load dumping position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the cableholding clamp, partially broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the invention.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 55 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3, except that the locking bar is broken away and is shown in releasing position, as well as being shown in section.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective detail view of the locking bar for holding the cable.

Referring more specifically to the drawings:

The log bunk is indicated by numeral 10, having the usual stakes 11 and 12 pivotally mounted thereto at 13. This invention consists in the manner in which the stakes 11, 12 are held in a vertical position and how they are released to move to an unloading position. The support for the stakes 11, 12 includes a section of chain 14 secured to and forming part of a cable 15.

Referring to Figure 2, the chain 14 is adjustably anchored to the bunk to a substantially rectangular outwardly extending ear 16. The car 16 has the usual keyhole opening 17 formed therein. The chain 14 is movable through the enlarged portion 18 of the opening 17 and is locked within the narrow slot portion 19, in the usual manner.

The opposite end of the chain 14 is connected to the cable by any suitable means, as by the loop member 20. The cable 15 then is threaded through the loop or eye 21 forming part of the stake 11 or 12, referring particularly to Figure 1. Then the cable 15 is continued downwardly andis threaded through theloop 22 forming part of the bunk 10, and extends therebeyond. The other end of thecable 15 terminates in a cable ferrule 23, which is adapted to interconnect within the locking or holding lever.24. The lever 24 is pivotally connected to the bunk 10 at 25 to the outwardly extending ears 26 forming part of bunk 10.

The lever '24 has an enlarged opening 27 formed therein of a size to permit the passage therethrough of the cable ferrule'23, as best illustrated inFigure 6. When the lever 24 is moved to the position shown in Figuresv 1, 3 and 4, the cable ferrule23passesbeyond the center pivot point 25 and bears against the sides 28A of the off-set arm 28 of the lever 24, so thatwhen a pull is exerted on the cable 15, the ferrulewill pull it against ther sides 28A of the arm 28, holding thev lever 24 in the position illustrated inthesaid above views.

Ashould er 29 is formed within the enlarged opening 27. and preventsthecable ferrule 23.frorn coming out through theopening27 from beyond the arms 28, when the lev er 24.is in locked positionfin the event the cable l5 should slack oif, butonbringing the lever 24.to th e position shown in Figure 6, the ferrule 23 will be released from the shoulder 29 passing through the enlarged opening 27 releasing the stake 11 or 12 to unloading position.

A safety lock 30 is provided for holding the lever 24 in closed or locked position until the operator releases the same. This lock 30 consists of a bolt 31 slidably mounted within the outwardly extending car 32 forming part of the bunk 10. The bolt 31 has a goose-neck 33 adapted to hook over the lever 24 and be maintained in engagement therewith by the action of the spring 34 bearing against the head 35 of the bolt 31 and against the ear 32, as best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that the end 28 of the lever 24 bears against a stop 36 which forms part of the bunk 10 so that the pull on the cable 15 and the ferrule 23 is anchored by the end 28 bearing against the stop 36 as well as by the pin 25 and the ears 26.

The operation of this new and improved log bunk 10 will now be described. The chain 14 is adjusted within the keyhole lock opening 17 so that when the cable 15 is drawn towards the locking bar 24 with the ferrule 23 engaged through the enlarged opening 27, the cable 15 will be so aligned as to hold the stake 11 or 12 in a vertical position. The ferrule 23 is inserted through the enlarged opening 27 within the arm- 28 of the locking bar 24, as shown in Figure 6. The bar 24 is then brought to the position shown in Figure 3, which will move the ferrule 23 to a point beyond the center 25 engaged behind the arms 28 and against the shoulder 29. The end of the lever 24 will then be latched underneath the goose-neck 33 by the operator raising the bolt 31 against the tension of spring 34, then dropping the goose-neck 33 down over the lever 24.

When it is desired to release the load by allowing the stake 11 or 12 to drop to the position shown by the stake 11 in Figure 1, the operator will release the gooseneck 33 from the end of the lever 24, then by inserting a pry bar (not shown) under the end of the lever 24 the operator can force the lever 24 against the pull of the cable 15 and the ferrule 23 so as to bring the lever 24 to the position shown in Figure 6, allowing the ferrule 23 to pass out through the enlarged opening 27, allowing the stake 11 or 12 to take the position shown by the stake 11 in Figure 1 and allowing the logs to roll off the bunk 10.

It can be seen that when this release is made the cable 15 will pull freely through the loop 22 as shown without injuring the cable 15. In holding the stake 11 or 12 in its vertical position against the load, the tighter the cable 3 15 and its ferrule 23 are pulled the greater will be the tendency of the locking bar 24 to remain in its holding position as shown in Figure 3.

It has been found that this structure is efficient and safe in its operation and economical to manufacture, filling a long desired need of the average log hauler.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

a What is claimed is:

A log bunk stake bracing mechanism for releasably bracing a pivotally mounted stake in upright relation on one end of a horizontal log bunk comprising a flexible cable having one end thereof secured to said bunk and the intermediate portion thereof engaging said stake, a ferrule fixed to the other end of said cable, a pair of vertically spaced parallel ears fixed to one side of said log bunk, an elongated horizontal lever having one end thereof positioned between said ears, vertically extending means pivotally securing said one end of said lever to said ears at a point thereon spaced substantially outwardly from said bunk so that said cable passes above the pivotal point of connection of said lever to said ears when said lever is brought into locking position, an angularly offset arm integrally secured to said one end of said lever and extending toward said bunk with said lever in substantially parallel relation to said bunk, said lever having a horizontal opening extending through said one end with dimensions such as to permit passage of said ferrule therethrough, said angularly offset arm having a horizontal opening with dimensions sufficient to permit passage of said cable 'therethrough while preventing passage of said ferrule therethrough, said opening in said offset arm communicating with said opening in said lever, a shoulder formed in the opening in said lever, and an abutment fixed to said bunk between said ears, said lever adapted to be swung on said pivot means from a released position at an angle to said bunk to a locked position substantially parallel to said bunk with said offset arm engaging said abutment, said ferrule engaging said offset arm with said lever in locked position with said cable extending through the opening in said offset arm, said shoulder engaging said ferrule to hold said ferrule in engagement with said offset arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

